Cutting sheets of web material



March 3, 1964 R. coUZENS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WINDING AND CUTTING SHEETS OF WEB MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1961 3 I 8!Iniiri-ii:l-B-ii-i-PiA 0 4 4 M m3. mu w 10 H D N m% R w ATTORNEY March 3, 1964 R. COUZENS 3,123,315

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WINDING AND CUTTING SHEETS 0F WEB MATERIAL Filed Feb. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7O REGINALD GOUZENS "MA Aw ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,l23,3 l Patented Mar. 3, 1964 3,123 315 APPARATUS AND FOR WINDENG CUT'IENG HEETS @F WEB MATERIAL Reginald Couzens, Wailing-ford, Pa, assignorto Dietz Machine Works, Inc, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 875% 6 Ciaims. (Cl. 24256) This invention relates to apparatus and method for winding and cutting sheets of web material. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus and method for winding a predetermined length of web material, such as tissue paper, and then cutting the web material.

This invention is specifically directed to the handling of web material such as facial tissue, toweling materials, toilet paper, etc. However, the present invention is capable of being utilized in paper winding machines utilizing other types of paper webs.

In paper winding machines, and particularly in machines for winding thin tissue paper such as toilet paper, a problem has long existed with respect to the attachment of one end of the web material to the core of the toilet paper roll. Heretofore, the end of the web has been applied to the core of the toilet paper roll by wetting the end of the web material and manually applying said wet end to the core. This method is slow, tedious, and requires the stopping of the paper web material.

Another problem which has long existed in paper winding machines, and particularly in machines handling toilet paper tissue, is the problem of providing a transverse cut across the width of the paper Web after a predetermined length of the paper web has been wound on a core.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus which solves the above problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus and method for winding sheets of web material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for cutting sheets of paper Web material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus and method for applying the end of a sheet of paper web material to a core without stopping the movement of the sheet of paper web material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus and method for cutting a sheet of paper web material and simultaneously wetting the ends of the Web material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus and method for cutting a perforated sheet of paper web material in response to the number of rows of perforations in said web material.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus and method for supporting cores for rolls of web material so that the web material is automatically wound around a core after a prior core has received a predetermined accumulation of web material therearound.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus for winding and cutting sheets of web material in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 with the elements shown in the position just prior to the cutting of the web material.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 showing the relationship of the elements while the web material is being cut in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the ap paratus shown in FIGURE 1 illustrating the relationship of the elements immediately after the web material has been cut in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 the apparatus of the present invention for winding and cutting sheets of web material designated generally as It.

The apparatus 10 includes a frame (not shown) on which all of the elements mentioned hereinafter are mounted. A sheet 12 of web material, such as toilet paper tissue, extends from a bulk roll 14 through the apparatus 10. The sheet of web material 12 extends from a bulk roll 14 over a tension roller 16. The tension roller 16 is rotatably mounted between a pair of arms 15 (only one arm is shown). The arms 18 are pivotably mounted to a fixed wall by a pivot pin 20 and are maintained in a substantially horizontal position by the vertically extending spring 22.

The sheet of web material 12 extends downwardly from the tension roller 16 below and around a direction roller 24. From the direction roller 24, the sheet of web material 12 passes over a rotatably mounted drum 26. The drum 26 is provided with a plurality of pockets 28 spaced around the periphery thereof. A cutter blade 39 is rotatably mounted above the drum 26. The cutter blade 34? cooperates with the pockets 28 on the drum 26 to provide a plurality of rows of spaced perforations across the full width of the sheet of web material 12.

The perforated sheet of web material 12 then passes beneath a directional roller 32 and between the feed rollers 34- and 36.

An intermittently operated conveyor means 49 is provided on the apparatus 1d of the present invention. The conveyor means 4d includes a drive roller 42 and a driven roller 44. A flexible belt or chain 46 is disposed around the rollers 42 and 44. As seen more clearly in FIGURES 2 and 4, a plurality of pairs of spring biased fingers are aflixed to the belt 46 at spaced points therealong. The fingers 4'3 and 50 pivot about the pivot point 52. The spring (not shown) for biasing the fingers 4'3 and 59 together may be, for example, a torsion spring mounted at the pivot point 52.

Finger 48 is provided at its free end with a rotatable roller 54. A second rotatable roller is provided on the finger 48 intermediate the pivot point 52 and the roller 54. The finger 50 is provided with a rotatable roller 56 at its free end. A second rotatable roller is provided on the finger Sil intermediate roller 56 and the pivot point 52. The purpose of the rollers on the fingers 48 and 5t? will be made clear hereinafter. As seen more clearly in FIGURES 2 and 4, a pair of fingers 58 and 60, identical with the fingers 48 and 50, are pivotably secured to the belt 46 at a point spaced from the pivot point 52 as will be made clear hereinafter.

A guide rail 62 is provided along and spaced from that portion of the belt 46 which is immediately adjacent to the driven roller 44. A back up plate 64 having an arouate lower peripheral surface is disposed between the rollers 42 and 44.

A drum 68 is rotatably mounted beneath the back up plate 64 of the conveyor means 40. The drum 68 is hollow and is provided with a center manifold '76. A peripheral manifold 72 is disposed adjacent the inner periphery of the drum 68. The manifolds 70 and 72 are connected in iluid communication by means of a plurality of conduits 74 (only one conduit is shown). An aerosol nozzle means 76 extends from the manifold 72 through the wall of the drum t the outer periphery of the drum 68. The nozzle means 76 is a single elongated nozzle extending the full length of the drum Alternatively, the nozzle means 76 may comprise a plura ny of closely spaced nozzles extending in a straight line for the entire length of the drum A counting device 73 is shown schematically in FIG- URE 1 as being operatively connected to the drum 2s. The counting device 78 counts the revolutions of the drum 26. After a predetermined number of revolutions of the drum es, the counting device '73 momentarily closes a switch thereby directing current from the source of electrical power 86 to a solenoid 82. The application of electrical energy to the solenoid 82 for a short interval of time energizes the solenoid 82.

The solenoid 82 is operatively connected to the valve 84. The valve 84, as shown schematically in FIGURE 1, is in a fluid supply conduit which is in communication with the center manifold 76). The supply conduit is in communication with a source of moisture laden pressurized fluid. The moisture laden pressurized fluid may be any one of a plurality of fluids such as pressurized steam, moistu ized air, etc. In addition, the pressurized fluid may include a suspension oi particles of solid materials.

In response to the rotations of the drum 26, the counting device '78 intermittently operates a switch for directing current from the source of electrical power 8% to an electrically operated clutch As shown schematically in FIGURE 1, the clutch as is disposed intermediate a motor 33 and the driving roller 42.

The remaining elements of the apparatus in of the present invention will be explained in the description of the operation of the apparatus 1% which follows hereinafter.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention is utilized in the following manner:

A core is disposed between each of the pairs of fingers on the belt 46 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 1. The cores may be disposed intermediate the fingers manually or by means of a mechanical conveyor and stacking mechanism. The sheet of paper web material 12 is fed from the roll 14 over the tension roller l6, beneath the direction roller 24, over the drum 26, beneath the direction roller 32, between the feed rollers 34 and as, over the drum 6%, and is stuck to a first core 9% by wetting the end of the sheet of web material 12. The sheet of web material 12 is fed between the outer periphery of the drum 38 and a second core 92 as shown more clearly in FIGURES 2 and 4.

The drum 26, rotatable cutter blade 39, feed rollers 34 and 36, and the drum 68 are driven in synchronization by a gear train (not shown) which, per se, forms no part of the present invention. When the gear train (not shown) is activated, the drum 26 and the cutter blade 36 rotate. In each revolution of the cutter blade 36, said cutter blade cooperates with the pockets 28 to provide a row of perforations extending across the full width of the sheet of web material 12. The perforated sheet of web material 12 is then fed by the feed rollers 34 and 36 to the periphery of the rotating drum 68. The rotation of the drum 68 causes the first core 96 to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 2 adjacent the core 96*, thereby winding the sheet of web material 12 around the core 99. As the roll of perforated web material 1 is Wound around the core db, the rotatably mounted rollers 54 and 56 support the core 99 and maintain the proper tension on the web of sheet material 12 which is being wound on the core 963. As the web of sheet material 12 accumulates on the core W, the resiliently biased fingers 4% and 50 spread apart so that the intermediate rollers on the fingers as and 5%) now engage the sheet of web material 12 being wound around the core 913.

While the web material 12 is being wound around the core @ri, the second core 92 merely rotates between the rollers at the ends of the fingers 5S and 6t! and that portion of the sheet of web material 12 juxtaposed to the periphey of the drum 68.

When a predetermined amount of the web material 12 has accumulated on the core Bil, the drum 2d will have rota ed through a predetermined number of revolutions. At this time, the counting device '78 will momentarily close a switch thereby directing current from the source of electrical power 5% to the solenoid 32. The solenoid 82, when energized, opens the valve 84 thereby directing a stream of moisture laden fluid from the supply conduit, through the manifold 7h, conduit 74, manifold '7 2, to the nozzle means 76. As seen more clearly FIGURE 3, the nozzle means vs will at this time be disposed between the cores 5?; and 92, but adjacent the core The moislure laden fluid stream from the nozzle means as readily cuts the sheet of web material 12. The moisture in the fluid stream weakens the strength of the web of sheet material 12 so that the pressure of the fluid stream easily cuts through the web material 12. The moisture in the fluid stream also provides the means for wetting the respective ends or" tile web material 12.

The rotation of the drum as is synchronized with the rotation of the drum 26 so that the nozzle means as is disposed adjacent the second core 92 when the fluid stream cuts the web material 12. The end of the web .iaterial 12 adjacent the core is wet from the fluid stream and because of the pressure of the stream is slapped against the core 92. The slapping of the end of the web material 12 against the core 92 causes this wet end to stick to the core As the drum 68 continues to rotate, the short interval during which the fluid stream was directed against the web material 12 has ceased due to the closing of valve $4. The rotation of the drum 68 causes the web material to continue to wind around the core 96 until the wet end 9d becomes stuck to the outermost layer of the web mat rial 12 wound on the core 9%. While the remainder of the web material 12 is being wound around the core )9, the core @2 has now begun to rotate with the web material 12 being Wound therearound. At this point, the counting device 78 closes a switch thereby directing current from the source of electrical power 3% to the clutch ss. The electrical clutch 8:; then enables the motor 83 to turn the driving roller 42.

As the driving roller 42 rotates, the belt 46 moves clockwise in FlGURE 1 so as to move the fingers to the position shown in FIGURE 4. When the fingers assume the position shown in FIGURE 4, the flow of current to the electric clutch as is interrupted thereby stopping the intermittent conveyor means 4%). Since the roll of the web material 12 on the core 9%) is merely disposed between the rollers 54 and es, the core 955 and its roll drop onto the chute as for delivery to a packaging machine. The movement of the belt 46 causes the core @8 to assume the position shown in FIGURE 4. Also, the movement of the belt 46 causes the next set of fingers to move the core 92 to the position shown in FIGURE 4.

As the belt 4-6 moves from the position shown in FIG- URE l to the position shown in FIGURE 4, the core 98 was maintained between the rollers on its fingers by the guide rail e2. While the cores 9t 92 and 93 are rotated by the drum 63, the back up plate or properly positions the belt 45 with relation to the drum (.3.

While the apparatus requires proper synchronization between the drums 26 and as and the conveyor means 4%, the apparatus for accomplishing the same such as the gear train, counting device 78, solenoid operated valve 84-, electric clutch 36, etc. are commercially available items which per se form no part of the present invention.

The above operation of the apparatus it? is automatically repeated with each cycle providing a roll of Web material around a core with the end of the web material stuck thereto. Also, the next roll is automatically initiated without stopping the machine since the stream of moisture laden fluid causes the free end of the web material 12 to stick to the next core. The web material 12 may be slit into the required widths prior to being fed to the drum 68 or may be slit into required widths after it has been wound on a core. Each of these methods are well known in the art and per se form no part of the present invention.

The above description requires the web material to be of such a nature that the moisture is capable of reducing the strength of the material so that the pressure of the stream may cut the same. As pointed out above, the stream may include a suspension of solid particles for use with web material having a higher Wet strength. Since the entire width of the sheet material 12 is subjected to the moisture laden fluid stream, a cut is provided in the web material 12 across its full width.

It will be noted that there is a direct relationship between the amount of the Web material .12 Wound on each of the cores and the number of rotations of the drum 26. Thus, the present invention enables the mass production of rolls of web material with each roll having the same length of web material wound thereon.

While the above description discloses the operation of the valve 84 in response to the number of rotations of the drum 26, it is within the scope of the present invention to make the solenoid 32 responsive to the amount of the spread between the fingers 43 and 50. In addition, the valve 84 may be made responsive to the number of rotations of the drum 68. In either event, the drum 68 must be synchronized with the drum 26.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus comprising a rotary drum, an intermittent conveyor means for intermittently positioning spaced first and second cores adjacent a sheet of web material supported by said drum, means for supporting said first core and winding the web material therearound, a selectively operable cutting means supported by said drum and rotatable therewith for cutting the web material between said cores and adjacent said second core after a predetermined length of said material has been wound on said first core, said cutting means including a nozzle means for directing a moisture laden fluid stream at the entire width of said material so that the ends of said Web material are wet, with said stream having sufiicient pressure to apply one of said wet ends against said second core.

2. In an apparatus comprising a rotary drum, an intermittent conveyor means for intermittently positioning spaced first and second cores adjacent a sheet of web material supported by said drum, means for supporting said first core and winding the web material therearound, a selectively operable cutting means supported by said drum and rotatable therewith for cutting the web material between said cores and adjacent said second core after a predetermined length of said material has been wound on said first core, said supporting means including a pair of fingers pivotably mounted at one end to said conveyor means, at least two spaced rotatable rollers on each finger, and resilient means biasing said fingers toward each other.

3. In an apparatus comprising a rotatable core, one end of a web material being attached to said core so that said web material is Wound on said core by the rotation of said core, means for rotating said core, and a selectively operable means for cutting said material by directing a moisture laden fluid stream across the entire width of said web material after a predetermined length of said web material has been wound on said first core, and said cutting means being disposed within said means for rotating said core.

4. In an apparatus comprising a rotatable core, one end of a web material being attached to said core so that said web material is wound on said core by the rotation of said core, means for rotating said core, a selectively operable means for cutting said material by directing a moistureladen fiuid stream across the entire width of said web material after a predetermined length of said web material has been wound on said core, said cutting means being mounted within said means for rotating said core, an intermittently operated endless conveyor, a pair of springbiased fingers pivotably connected to said conveyor, and said core being supported between said fingers.

5. In an apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cutting means is mounted within said drum and has a portion adjacent to periphery of said drum juxtaposed to the eb material.

6. In a method of handling web material comprising the steps of winding a web material around a first core, positioning a second core adjacent said material prior to the accumulation of a predetermined length of said Web material on said first core, cutting said web material between said cores and adjacent said second core with a moisture laden fluid stream so that the respective ends of said web material are Wetted during the cutting step, applying one of the Wet ends against said second core, applying the other wet end against the outer layer of web material on said first core, embracing each core between members biased against the outer periphery of each core and the material therearound, and moving the members away from each other during the step of winding the web material on said cores.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,655,927 Vickery Jan. 10, 1928 1,872,018 Street Aug. 16, 1932 1,878,184 Roesen Sept. 20, 1932 2,237,759 Kwitek Apr. 8, 1941 2,328,109 Thompson Aug. 31, 1943 2,366,999 Campbell Jan. 9, 1945 2,404,460 Rolker July 23, 1946 2,512,900 Kwitek June 27, 1950 2,585,227 Christman Feb. 12, 1952 2,626,701 Avetta et a1. Jan. 27, 1953 2,845,231 Grettve July 29, 1958 2,984,426 Johnson May 16, 1961 2,989,262 Hornbostel June 20, 1961 

1. IN AN APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROTARY DRUM, AN INTERMITTENT CONVEYOR MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY POSITIONING SPACED FIRST AND SECOND CORES ADJACENT A SHEET OF WEB MATERIAL SUPPORTED BY SAID DRUM, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FIRST CORE AND WINDING THE WEB MATERIAL THEREAROUND, A SELECTIVELY OPERABLE CUTTING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID DRUM AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH FOR CUTTING THE WEB MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID CORES AND ADJACENT SAID SECOND CORE AFTER A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF SAID MATERIAL HAS BEEN WOUND ON SAID FIRST CORE, SAID CUTTING MEANS INCLUDING A NOZZLE MEANS FOR DIRECTING A MOISTURE LADEN FLUID STREAM AT THE 